We operate some of the finest astronomical research facilities in the world, with
observatories on nearly every continent — even Antarctica.
Whether it's capturing the first historic images of black holes, observing the faint ripples in
spacetime of colossal cosmic explosions from billions of years ago, or imaging the births and
deaths of stars, NSF-supported research builds knowledge of the universe and humanity's place
within it.
By supporting the research community, we help to advance:
- The discovery of planets orbiting other stars and the search for life on these worlds.
-
Understanding of the origin and evolution of the early universe.
-
Understanding of mysterious dark matter and dark energy, which together comprise 95% of the
observable universe.
